Chapter 250: The arsenal exploded?

In the 13th year of Zhizheng, the entire Yuan Dynasty was in great shape. Although there were Red Turban Army everywhere, they were all divided and surrounded. In particular, Liu Futong, who was the most threatening, had gradually reduced his territory under the joint suppression of Kuogutemur and Li Siqi. Zhu Yuanzhang's troops were also surrounded in Chuzhou and could not move south. Although Xu Shouhui's troops in the south captured Hangzhou, they were under the control of the province. The peasant uprising had reached a low point.

Taking advantage of this period, Zhang Yang is doing one thing: to accumulate strength.

Although hating the Tartars, fighting the Tartars is not a matter of one or two days, but a long-term strategic purpose. It is not embarrassing to compromise with the Tartars occasionally before having enough strength. All the leaders of the rebel army, except Chen Youliang, have more or less contact with the court.

The hidden dragon is the inevitable rise of the dragon.

Several major salt farms are Zhangyang's main fiscal revenue. The fine salt is sold to the entire province and sold to the capital, solving Zhangyang's urgent need. With sufficient income, Zhangyang's team has been greatly expanded, and each battalion has grown to 4,000 people.

There are four thousand-person teams, one of which is a cavalry team, all equipped with Tianque guns, war horses, and a cavalry knife made of fine steel. This is also developed by Zhang Yang in combination with the characteristics of modern cavalry knife. It is a bit like the *** samurai sword. The back of the knife is very narrow and light in weight. The cavalry team is responsible for the heavy responsibility of assault in the entire army. After training, they can shoot at the horse. They mainly kill the enemy from a long distance and try not to get into hand-to-hand combat. The cavalry knife is only used when it is necessary, because it is extremely challenging to install a bayonet when it is a speeding horse.

Two thousand-person teams equipped with Tianque guns, both of which are infantry, mainly responsible for city defense and attacking. They are the backbone of the troops.

The remaining 1,000-man team is considered a miscellaneous army, with five spear 100 teams. They rarely undertake offensive combat tasks and are mainly used to protect key places. If they are approached by the Tartars and there are no bullets in the Tianque Gun, the spear formation can play a role in protecting. The spear teams are eliminated from the training of the Tianque Gun. Since they cannot accurately hit the target, they can only go back and use the spear. Elimination is ruthless and necessary. On the battlefield, emotions cannot be discussed.

There were also three artillery soldiers of the Hundreds, who were mainly responsible for manipulating artillery equipped for the troops.

Since he obtained the talent of Jiao Yu, Jiao Yu has been studying hard and finally made a breakthrough in artillery research. Currently, he is equipped with two different artillery.

One type has a caliber of one and a half feet, a barrel with a square base at the bottom, which is placed at forty-five degrees. The front bore is mainly used to shoot shotguns and eliminate large areas of enemies by surface-shaped bullet rain. The range is slightly further than the Tianque gun, about 500 steps, but the accuracy is not high, and the advantage is that it is relatively light, only 100 kilograms. During the war, it can be operated by a four-person team, two people are responsible for moving and aiming, and two people are responsible for loading and ignition. This kind of artillery is called a scattered fireworks.

The other type is still one and a half feet in diameter, but the barrel is twenty feet, and the body tube is about thirteen times the caliber. This kind of artillery is loaded from the breeze. Therefore, Jiao Yu repeatedly studied the sealing problem of the gun tail and designed a special door bolt. The back of the gun is thick and thin, which simplifies the weight. However, it is still weighing 400 kilograms. Therefore, this kind of artillery is installed on two wheels, and the wheel is also equipped with a simple lifting device to change the elevation angle. Most importantly, the rifle is carved inside the barrel.

So far, the polishing of the inner wall of the gun bore has been handed over to the steam engine to drive the grinding wheel, but the rifle still needs to be carved by hand, so the production of this kind of gun is very slow, and only more than twenty cannons have been equipped in total.

The diameters are uniform, all of which are one and a half feet. This is because the drug-pack-type launching medicine is adopted. Each time the gunpowder is fired, the gunpowder is pounded in advance to make a launching medicine package that is also circumference of one and a half feet, thereby reducing the filling time.

Although the caliber is not large, increasing the length of the body tube increases the initial velocity of the muzzle, and the rifling carved greatly improves the flight stability of the shell and improves the accuracy. Therefore, the effective range of this kind of artillery is ten miles long! Moreover, the iron shell is very powerful, and even the strong city wall cannot withstand the collision of this iron ball at an extremely high speed.

This kind of artillery is named the God of War Cannon. Although it is a little more bulky, it can be dragged by two horses and accompanied the field troops to advance, and the city of success is invincible.

In addition to equipping field troops, it is also used to equip warships.

The remaining two hundred men teams have become thorough logistics teams, equipped with waist knives and carriages.

The defensive tasks of several battalions did not change much. The first battalion of Shiyi mainly guarded the salt field, the second battalion of Tang He, the third battalion of Taizhou, the third battalion of Lu Zhen, the fourth battalion of Xinghua, Bian Yuanheng, the fourth battalion of Gaoyou Lake, the remaining base camp, and the Gaoyou Mansion.

Among these battalions, only Bian Yuanheng's fourth battalion was different. He had increased his team to 5,000 people and collected many ships. There were five large ships driven by steam engines, which were the flagships of each thousand-person team. The rest were various transport ships and fishing boats. When fighting, the shooting of Tianque guns was mainly used.

In addition to two thousand-man cavalry teams and three thousand-man Tianque gun teams, Zhang Yang's base camp also has a thousand-man short-man team. This team is mainly responsible for Zhang Yang's personal guards, and short-man teams are easier to deal with nearby targets.

Short muskets have also begun to be manufactured in small quantities at the base. The muzzle has become shorter. Although its power is reduced, it is easier to operate and convenient to carry. As Zhang Yang's personal guard, it is more advantageous to use this musket. This musket is named Wufeng Gun.

In addition to equip Zhang Yang's personal guards, they are allocated to officials above the centurion.

There is also a sniper gun with a few equipment that has a longer range, which is mainly equipped for sharpshooters in each thousand-person team.

The troops under Zhang Yang had only more than 20,000 people, but equipping such a unit was already considered a lot of money. Even the wealthy private salt dealer, Zhang Yang felt a little painful. The only thing he could do was to let the troops train desperately, and indeed let the equipped firearms exert their power.

After the summer grain harvest, Zhang Yang recovered nearly 500 stones of grain in Gaoyou and Taizhou. Because he exempted three years of taxes, he did not have a penny of land rent. However, if the people wanted to sell grain, they could only sell it to him. Even at the market price, the people were unwilling to sell grain. They were used to poor life and suddenly found that the granary was full. While thanking Zhang Yang for his kindness, they all wanted to live with their own grain. Zhang Yang knew this kind of small peasant idea. Now, his main method was to buy grain.

Zhang Yang's eyes have turned to the farther south bank. On the south side of Yangzhou Road is Pingjiang Road in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province. Zhang Yang has been to Pingjiang City (i.e. Suzhou City). The tall and majestic city walls and the vast fertile fields outside the city. The entire Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province are the rice warehouses, granaries, and the grain from the north of the court, mainly from Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, transported by waterways, and Gaoyou Prefecture is on the waterway for the canal transportation.

Whoever controls Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces will control the richest areas in the world.

Just when Zhang Yang was eyeing him and had already turned his attention to Pingjiang Road, a happy event happened in Xinghua City: Liu Ruohan was born.

The happiest thing in life is the wedding night, the title of the golden list, and the one that is better than both is the birth of your next generation, the birth of a new life, and the feeling of becoming a father for the first time is the most enjoyable.

When Liu Ruohan was about to be born, Zhang Yang had already returned to Xinghua City. Under the governance of Shi Nai'an, all government affairs of Gaoyou Mansion were in order. The soldiers who were locked in the cage had long lost their fighting spirit and just passed by. Occasionally, when there was an official document above, they called Li Pu, and wrote whatever he should write, and then reported it back, and it was completed.

There was also a team of personal guards who returned to Xinghua City with Zhang Yang.

The weather in July was extremely hot and hot. Zhang Yang was outside the bedroom, listening to Liu Ruohan's painful shouts inside, and walked around anxiously.

In this era, there were no delivery rooms, no professional obstetricians, and no caesarean section. The only thing that was experienced midwife. However, no matter how powerful the midwife was, it could not be compared with the obstetrician. The proportion of deaths due to difficult labor was very high. Zhang Yang felt sweaty when he heard Ruohan's shouts.

He wanted to lift the curtain and go in, but his mother pushed it out. Even if he was a husband, it was not suitable for watching this scene.

"Wow, wow." Suddenly, a baby cried out from the room.

"I've been born, I've finally been born." The voice of the maid had already heard from inside.

"Ruohan!" Zhang Yang could no longer hold back, lifted the curtain and walked in.

Inside, the steam was hazy, and a large pot of hot water had been brought over. The midwife was wiping Ruohan with hot water.

When Cao saw Zhang Yang coming in, he immediately shouted: "I am already a father and I am so anxious. Go out first and wait until the child is cleaned, and I will carry it to you."

Ruohan's pale face flashed in Zhang Yang's eyes and was driven out by his mother.

In this era, having children is not like the ones performed on TV. When the nurse comes out of life, she picks them up and shows them to the child’s father: It’s so cute, she’s a boy. That’s pure nonsense.

When you are born, a lot of amniotic fluid and blood will gush out, and even *** or feces will be pulled out, contaminating the baby and then polluting the baby from the birth canal. Therefore, you need to prepare hot water. As soon as the baby is born, you must immediately scrub the dirt on his body and then wrap it up.

In order to avoid infection, the mother's vagina must be disinfected, and these must be cooled with hot water before doing it. Therefore, when Zhang Yang went in, he saw a few maids busy working, just doing cleaning work.

It is impossible for newborn babies to raise their arms with both hands. The neck of newborn babies is fragile, and the result of doing so is that the neck is immediately broken. They must be wrapped in cloth, then hold their heads with one hand and the other hand to hold their butts.

After waiting for a while, Zhang Yang was allowed to enter the bedroom. Inside, Liu Ruohan had already opened his eyes and looked at the child next to him. His face was terrible white.

"Congratulations, Master, it's a boy." After the midwife said that, she was ready to go.

"Thank you, Grandma Wang." Zhang Yang said: "You can take these five taels of silver."

"Master, I can't accept this. It's the honor of being able to deliver the baby to the empress." The midwife said and then left.

Empress? What is this called? My wife is Empress, am I the Emperor? Don’t cause trouble for these fools, so I have to emphasize it later.

Zhang Yang didn't know that the policies he implemented here had given the people real benefits. In the hearts of the people, he was already a noble emperor like a noble emperor, and everyone affectionately called Liu Ruohan the Empress Liu.

"Ruohan, thank you for your hard work." Zhang Yang said with heartache.

"Not working hard." Liu Ruohan smiled: "I'm very worried. If it's a daughter, will you look down on me? Now, it's a son."

"It's the same for a boy or a girl," said Zhang Yang.

"Every time you raise it, you will say that my son is doing in my stomach," Liu Ruohan said: "Since that time, people were worried about death. If they were a daughter, you didn't know how to be angry with me."

Zhang Yang smiled. It has nothing to do with you if you give birth to a boy or a girl. It depends on what kind of tadpoles swim over.

Of course, women of this era do not know this truth. If they give birth to a daughter, they will have no shame to be a human being.

Zhang Yang gently stroked Ruohan's forehead, feeling the warmth of her body, but felt a sense of guilt in his heart. For less than a month, he had been running around for less than a month. Now, his career is getting bigger and bigger, but his family is still not at ease. Maybe, this is fate.

The reasonable Ruohan has never asked for anything to ask for him. He has always been by his side and silently dedicated himself. This is the harbor of home. No matter what major happens outside, as long as he thinks of home and the birth of a new life, his heart is filled with warmth.

The stars outside were dim, and the evening breeze blew, and there was a humid and hot breath.

Shi Nai'an walked out of the government office and worked all day today. He first dealt with a theft case in Fanshuizhai, and then met with several "farmer representatives" from Baoying, hoping to implement the policy of dividing land in Baoying, and inspected the defense at the city. When he returned to the government office, he received a document from the above. The itinerary for the day was dense.

"Sir, it's time to go back and rest." Luo Guanzhong walked over and said to Shi Nai'an.

"There are many things in Guanzhong, we have to prepare for the future." Shi Nai'an said.

"Sir, what's the matter?"

"We have occupied Gaoyou for more than half a year, but there has been no movement in Yangzhou. I have a very premonition that there will be a big storm."

"Sir, even if the Yangzhou garrison comes, we are not afraid. Now, there are our navy troops on Gaoyou Lake, and there are more than 4,000 troops in Gaoyou City alone, and there are many scattered fireworks on the top of the city. Even if the Tatars want to come, they must consider it. Besides, the lord is still the county magistrate and prefecture of the province. There is no reason for the province to attack us, right?"

Shi Nai'an nodded: "Now our power has developed greatly. Although the identity of the lord is beneficial to us, I am also afraid that this identity will limit the lord."

Limited? Luo Guanzhong doesn't understand.

"With such a force now, we should continue to expand the territory, especially the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in the south, which are much richer than our current Jiangbei province in Huainan. However, the lord had no reason to use troops. Even if we attack Gaoyou Mansion, we had to borrow the crazy assassination of Daluhuachi. Even so, the province was very wary and immediately sent two new prefects and Daluhuachi. Fortunately, the elder brother made a quick decision and would never give up what he got. We are now very passive and have abundant troops, but there is no excuse to continue to expand the territory, unless we break up with the province and raise the anti-flag again." Shi Nai'an was worried.

How great can you have in Gaoyou Prefecture? It is the right way to continue to develop southward. Moreover, the southern water network is everywhere, and the Tatars' cavalry cannot be implemented at all. The Tatars' army was blocked from the north. First, collect the land in the south, and the foundation is strong, and then destroy the Tatars in the north.

Luo Guanzhong said: "Sir, the lord is far-sighted and probably has been planning to attack Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province for a long time. Over the past period, he has contacted me several times to learn about the details of Changzhou Road and Pingjiang Road. I have sent dozens of spies to these places for inquiries about information."

Shi Nai'an felt relieved. He did not choose the wrong lord, and his eyes had already turned to the south.

"Guanzhong, how is the situation in Dadu?"

"It is normal in most people. With the help of grain trafficking, our people have successfully lurked in most people. At present, what we can find is only some external news. Our people are preparing to get into the home of the Xuanzhengyuan envoy Hama. They have already had contact with the housekeeper and can arrange a servant for a servant." Luo Guanzhong said.

When doing business, it is originally a mutual use. He Zhaoyi uses Zhang Yang’s fine salt to earn a lot of money. Zhang Yang also uses He Zhaoyi to sell out all the fine salt he has in stock. Now, the salt farm is working overtime to make sea salt, but these days it has been cloudy, and the salt production of the salt farm has dropped. Li Shanchang has become fierce in the salt farm.

He Zhaoyi used Minmin as a cover to successfully entrain the fine salt into the grain. With Minmin support, the grain could be made, and Minami could make a fortune. Zhang Yang used the reasonable requirements of protecting He Zhaoyi to successfully put his people in Dadu and set up a chess piece in advance.

"This time my lord returns to Xinghua, I heard that my sister-in-law is going to give birth?" Luo Guanzhong asked.

"Yes, I hope it's a dragon son." Shi Nai'an said.

There were only two people present, and they were masters and apprentices, so they didn't care about some of them. They were now helping Zhang Yang conquer the world, just to assist him in becoming the Nine Five Lord, which is probably the idea of ​​many people.

Luo Guanzhong nodded, hope so!

Suddenly, with a loud "boom!", a fire of several feet high was lit in the dark night sky, accompanied by a huge explosion.
Chapter completed!